Reviews
Kiss the Bride (2007)
A movie about friendships and our pasts, not a movie about gay men
Review for "Kiss the Bride" (2007 movie) Come into "Kiss the Bride" expecting a big gay romance or even a gay version of "My Best Friend's Wedding" and you're going to be disappointed. Watch it with an eye for some great one-liners (the car rental agent!), a surprisingly insightful look at relationships, and an appreciation for deep, platonic relationships and you might have a chance of liking it.
The premise: Matt (Phillip Karner) receives a wedding invitation from his long-lost, high school best friend (and first love), Ryan (James O'Shea). Imagine his shock when it turns out that Ryan's fiancé is a woman! Just how did the guy who taught Matt how to, er, orally pleasure a man (by example) end up with a woman? So of course Matt must return to his rural hometown to save Ryan from his marriage and their mutual hometown.
Already sounds like a carbon copy, right? Don't pass on this film just yet. Central to this story is the question of what 'I love you' really means and why we can't ever divorce ourselves from our history (and, really, why we shouldn't).
Over the course of the movie, we see groom-to-be Ryan and his fiancée, bride-to-be Alex (Tori Spelling) have a great, playful chemistry. Tori Spelling and James O'Shea did a good job of portraying a comfortably warm, affectionate couple that are together for the long-haul (only anxious about the wedding itself). The answer to why marriage makes them so anxious is neatly answered in a speech towards the end of the movie, which some viewers might not like (personally, I like the dramatic realization/speech delivery in this movie. Tori Spelling did a great job there and voiced a thought that I think many people have when it comes to marriage).
It is, however, the relationship between our two lead men that really drew me in. The two actors do a great job portraying the deep, deep affection (dare I say love?) that's still between the two men. I can't say too much without revealing too much, but I am proud of Ryan's character for being proud to call Matt his "first love...first everything." That their connection is transcended the normal boundaries of friendship spoke true to me.
I'll admit I'm a sucker for friendships that just go above and beyond, but I think the actors did a great job here. If that type of relationship appeals to you, then I think you'll enjoy this film quite a bit.
3-Day Weekend (2008)
A reflection on how our relationships change and how we need to change with them
Come at this movie with the right mindset and you'll enjoy it. 3-day Weekend, for me, was a study in how relationships change and grow with us, and how we need to grow and change with our relationships.
It's pretty apparent from the start of the movie that sparks are going to fly during the course of this movie, of both the sexual and angry nature. Actually, from the premise alone it's clear there's going to be some major sparks. Thankfully, the drama doesn't ever go over-the-top and instead let's the impact of events play more naturally for the viewer.
For example, Simon's confession. In the middle of a heated, shouted argument, Jason quietly asks, "Aren't you tired of pretending you love me as much as I love you?" When he's faced with the confession anyone in a long-term relationship fears, he walks out of the room and Simon makes a quiet exit. The impact of his absence felt in the awkwardness the actors did a wonderful job playing to.
For some, this felt too open-ended, without a sense of resolution. So let me ask anyone who has had a long-term relationship end: would one three-day weekend be long enough to resolve everything? Another lovely aspect of this film was the mixture of ages we saw. It's not often that I'm treated to seeing older gay men giving advice to their younger counterparts (at least, without being played for camp value). The actors gave each of their characters a certain genuine feeling that I greatly appreciated.
The movie does have a few flaws. Occasionally scenes were drawn out too long, certain conversations were left too implicit (what did Cameron and Andre talk about that last night?), and some characters and relationships were underdeveloped. In particular, it wasn't always easy to see the deep (platonic) affection holding Cooper and Jason's friendship together. And Cameron felt like he was just there to be there, though he would have made an interesting foil of sorts for Andre.
Overall, though, this was a charming movie, with some wonderful perspectives, from gay men past their partying age (or for those of us who just aren't into that scene), people trapped in a relationship, and those of us starting a new one. It's worth watching, especially if you enjoy studies in characters and their relationships.
In closing, a description of our players: Jason (Douglas Myers): The host for the weekend, a man in his late forties who loves to escape to his gorgeous cabin with his best friend, Cooper, and his beloved partner for many years, Simon.
Simon (Derek Meeker): Our second host for the weekend and Jason's long-time partner who feels more and more trapped in his relationship. In his words, he's ready for something different.
Cooper (Derek Long): A man in his mid-forties, his friends lovingly tease him about always having a boy-of-the-month (and yet, Ace and he have been together for over a year now...) Ace (Stephen Twardokus): Cooper's 'boy-of-the-month', Ace is a sweet and relatively innocent (though not exactly naive) aspiring actor in his mid-twenties. He has faith in his relationship with Cooper and believe he's found 'the one.' Andre (Daniel Rhyder): Simon's guest for the weekend, Andre is a male escort that loves his job and has had Simon as a client for sometime now.
Mac (Chris Carlisle): Jason's guest for the weekend, a painfully shy, partly closeted, and warmhearted young man from his work.
Kevin (Gaetano Jones): Cooper's guest and his yoga instructor, possessing an uncommon serenity and deep appreciation for the life he has.
Cameron (Joel Harrison): Ace's invitee, a party boy who's more interested in getting high than being in touch with nature.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
An amazing film; wonderful cast chemistry
I just finished this film. It was pretty damn amazing. The chemistry between the characters and cast members is palpable; it's so, so easy to believe that they are friends and that they've built a wonderful relationship among one another.
Charlie's character and story continually, in turn, broke my heart, made me smile, and surprised me. Actually, the stories of the central three characters all surprised and delighted me because the movie wasn't about their problems or their pasts. The movie was really about the characters, their lives and their relationships. They came with experiences and pasts that were powerfully influential, but that wasn't what the movie was about.
A wonderful aspect of the movie was how much it focused on their friendships, without ignoring their families. That focus on their friendships worked well with this movie, unlike most, because it made me remember what it was like, friendships were THE most important part of my life, possibly the only important part. I think that's an experience many teenagers feel in the Western world. Perhaps it worked because the movie integrated their families into the story, like how a teen's family is there and important, but we aren't always aware of them.
I highly recommend this film. The directing was fantastic, all of the actors did an amazing job, and I think many lines of dialogue and scenes will stay with me for a long time.